Role of ministers in the New Testament church

Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet

Most of the men who contact me by e-mail don't appear to know which office they are called to in the ministry.

We do not learn from man to do the offices of God.  Neither are we ordained by man to be one of the ministry offices. 

But it is God HIMSELF who chooses us and sets us in the church to care for the church, and appoints us to the ministry offices and teaches us how to do these offices.

Ephesians 4:8; 11-12

Wherefore HE saith, When he ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

(After the crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus gave ministry offices to some to care for the church.  These "gifts" are ministry gifts to the church.)

And HE gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

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Five ministry offices are given to the NT church:

Some ministers just copy other ministers.  These are the "mockers" (imitators) spoken of in Jude.

3-4

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

(While saying "Jesus is Lord,"  they deny Jesus in works as they fall away from portions of scripture and end up deceiving many as Jesus said they would do.   Matthew 24)

Jude

12-13

These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

(They have all kinds of works but no real fruit of godliness through messages from God.)

Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame  (by their own words); wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

16-19

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;  How that they told you there should be mockers (imitators of real ministers) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

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I receive so many e-mails from men who foam out their own shame ... having not the Spirit.

I print these so you can be aware of what is going on.

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Most of these are antichrist, pretending, as they try to get money and things from me, not really interested in the messages I am writing.

*  walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words,  

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Most have no idea what they are nor by whom they speak.  They just copy each other.

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Real ministers of God have messages from God for the church and their messages edify the church.

Report from Linda Rodgers (Member of body of Christ) ... 5-2-18

Joan, The blog this morning was wonderful in telling us what to do in times of trouble. Getting wisdom from God. Thank you for refreshing me on that. I appreciate hearing the same messages over and over, I always am edified. And there is always something that is presented in a little different way that I can use. Thank you

Reply from Joan Boney ...

Thanks.. These men who write to me seem so out of season.. and they really have no messages...all they have to show are their own works.

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In 1975, I was born again.

Shortly after that, I was transported into heaven where I was with God, with Jesus, with the Holy Spirit.  (no images but an experience in the spirit)

At that time, I was merged into the body of Jesus ... made one with the Word of God ... God and the Holy Spirit witnessing.

A few days after this, the exact same thing happened a second time.

Later everywhere I went people would say, "We know the hand of the Lord is really upon you."

One woman said to me:  "I don't know how I know this but you are going to be very mightily used by God and you are going to have to stay very close to HIM."

Several from our church groups witnessed to me that I was a prophet of God.

My own pastor, from pulpit one Sunday morning, said:  "Joan is not called as a teacher.  She is a prophet."

One day, I was riding along in my car and God said to me:  "I have called you and set you in the body of Christ as an apostle."  

I cried out, "An apostle!  What's that?"

God began to teach me both offices of apostle and prophet to which I was called.

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I know the work to which I was assigned by God, though often humans try to cause me to go other ways in the church.  I never listen to them, however, and do not follow the spirit that is in them, for I know what they say is opposite to that which God has told me about myself.

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These men, for the most part, don't have any idea what they are ... they just copy each other and try to get money for themselves from us.

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